Formatting a "custom input mask" field in Table design

[LouiseRoussel]

Quick question.
Is it possible to format a "custom input mask" so that if no data for a character, the displayed data will not show empty space.
For example,


Designing a Primary Key for a MoviesID column under the Table.
Movie: Start Treck (ST) Category: Science Fiction (SF) Audience: General (G)
Custom input mask is: >CCCCC-CC-CCCC
So movie shows up in Datasheet view and Form view as: ST -SF-G
But if only 2 characters are used in the first part of the mask, I do not want to see empty space.
Is it possible to format so that no space is used if no character entered?
Thanks all, I have not done Access since 94 so I'm just getting back into it.

[CJ_London]

not so far as I am aware - input masks are by their nature rigid in their requirements. And I don't think the format property has that level of flexibility for text.

Probably better to have some code in the control afterupdate event to remove spaces

As a primary key, it does not sound like a good idea anyway. With three chars you are bound to get clashes on film names - and what if the franchise extends to 10 or more films? why not use an autonumber primary key and simply display a calculated value based on category/audience when required.

[LouiseRoussel]

not so far as I am aware - input masks are by their nature rigid in their requirements. And I don't think the format property has that level of flexibility for text.

Probably better to have some code in the control afterupdate event to remove spaces

As a primary key, it does not sound like a good idea anyway. With three chars you are bound to get clashes on film names - and what if the franchise extends to 10 or more films? why not use an autonumber primary key and simply display a calculated value based on category/audience when required.

Louise's reply: The 5 characters at the beginning of the input mask were to allow students to create up to 5 letters/digits in the first part of the input mask (Movie name). Indeed I thought of combining Format and Custom Input Mask properties (field properties) but too complicated and my research also led me to believe that the mask design is intended to be rigid. The exercice I had designed was intentionally without AutoNumber to get students to create their own ID knowing that the Primary Key would not accept duplicates.
Thank you again.